Alina: Light & Shadows

Chapter 20

The hall was immersed in palpable darkness, the walls seeming to close in around us as we stood before the Shadow King. His figure, cloaked in a mantle that appeared woven from shadows themselves, emanated a power both captivating and unsettling.

His eyes sparkled like distant stars, scrutinizing us with a wisdom and depth that made me feel vulnerable.

“How dare you cross the threshold of my realm?” he said, his deep voice resonating through the stone walls. “What do you seek?”

“We need answers,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “Seline is trying to control my power, and we need to understand why. What does this have to do with me?”

Kael looked at me, his gaze heavy with apprehension. “We’re here to learn the truth,” he said, his voice low but determined.

The Shadow King raised a hand, and a mystical silence fell over the room. “The truth has many faces,” he replied, his voice deep and resonant. “And your quest will lead you to uncover connections you never imagined.”

I felt at the mercy of his words. “Is it true that you are my father?” I asked, my heart racing in my chest. The question had arisen spontaneously, as if I needed a confirmation I had never dared to seek.

The Shadow King tilted his head, as if my question had stirred something within him. “Yes,” he finally said, his penetrating gaze fixed on my eyes. “You are my daughter. But your birth is shrouded in secrets and sacrifices.”

“How is that possible? And why didn’t my mother tell me?” My mind was in turmoil, the information colliding in a chaotic rush.

“Your power is a gift but also a curse. Your mother, fearing for your life, took you away from our realm when things went wrong. Furthermore, Seline made a grave mistake: she feared losing her shadows and decided to cast a curse to preserve them. She gave you a fragment of her power. When she realized her own was not enough to open the rift, she began searching for you.

His words struck me like lightning, revealing buried truths.

“She wants your power, Alina,” the Shadow King explained, his voice growing graver. “If she manages to seize it, she can pour the shadows into the realm of light, breaking the balance between the worlds. The light will be enveloped by darkness, and she will be the queen of a new order.”

“And you?” I asked, my heart in turmoil. “What is your role in all this? Can I trust you?”

“That is the fundamental question,” he replied, his voice calm yet unsettling. “I am the one who reigns over shadows, but not all shadows are evil. My existence is intertwined with Seline’s, and your legacy will be the fulcrum of our confrontation.”

Kael stepped forward. “We need to know if we can trust you. Our lives are at stake, and we cannot afford to make a mistake.”

“Trust is a fragile concept in this world,” the Shadow King admitted.

“My nature is complex; I am neither entirely good nor entirely evil. However, my goal is to preserve balance. If Seline were to win, both the realm of shadows and the realm of light would be destroyed. I have seen the future awaiting both worlds, and I wish to prevent it.”

“And us?” I asked, anxiety rising. “What is our role in this?”

“You must confront Seline and stop her plan. And to do so, you will need to accept the power you possess. But the price will be high,” he replied, his gaze penetrating. “Seline is cunning, and she will stop at nothing to get what she desires.”

“We are willing to risk everything,” Kael stated, determination in his eyes. “But we need to know how we can confront her. What is the next step?”

I remained silent, absorbing his words. “What must I do? Why am I here?”

“You must find a rare flower, the Essence of Moon. The ones you collected in the forest are useful, but they will not be enough. The Essence of Moon is the only antidote to counter Seline’s power.”

“But where is this flower?” I asked, feeling a new determination grow within me.

“It is said to grow in the Valley of Shadows, a dangerous place full of traps. You will have to confront your fear and your past to find it,” the Shadow King replied, fixing me with an intense gaze. “Kael will accompany you, but you must be ready for anything.”

“Is this how we will stop Seline?” Kael interrupted, his tone skeptical but also curious.

“Only if you manage to obtain the flower. But be aware that the journey will not be easy,” the Shadow King warned. “The shadows are stirring, and not all are friendly.”

As he spoke, the tension in the air grew, as if the temple itself was breathing. My heart pounded, aware of the weight of my legacy and the challenges that lay ahead.

“I am not afraid to confront Seline,” I asserted, courage ignited by the truth. “I will fight for my freedom and for the future of the realm of light.”

The Shadow King nodded, a glimmer of pride in his dark eyes. “Remember, Alina. Your true strength lies not only in the power of shadows but in your heart. The choice to face your destiny is what will make you invincible.”

With a nod, he pointed to a door leading outside. “Prepare yourselves. You must leave immediately for the Valley of Shadows. Time is not on your side.”

As I moved toward the door, I felt Kael’s gaze on me. “Are you ready to do this?” he asked, his face reflecting concern and determination.

“Yes,” I replied, “we will fight together,” I said, resolute. “To stop Seline and break this curse.”

With one last look at the Shadow King, who was now silent and majestic, we stepped into the unknown, ready to confront our fears and discover the truth about our power and our past.

The Valley of Shadows awaited us, and I knew that to confront Seline, we would have to join our forces.

But the question remained: were we truly ready to discover how far we were willing to go to protect what we loved?